3 weeks holidays and a new adventure for us in the beautiful central american country of Costa Rica. Its primary forests, its magical coast and carribean ambiance, the fauna, various national parcs and the volcanos made this trip magical!
Summary
Costa Rica was our first real big and long trip after our World Tour 2021-2022. We had the chance to take our time, we didn’t book anything in advance and just followed the flow! We travelled 20 days end of March, at the end of the rainy season.
4 weeks could have allow us to also visit Manzanillo, Montesuma and Isla Tortuga so if you have more time or do not like forest and volcanos you could exchange Arenal area and maybe only keep Monteverde to focus on the coasts.
Parque Nacional Los Quetzales would also be an option to keep in mind, I guess this is less touristic as Monteverde with less people!
Tip about the parcs: Reserve your entrance slot in advance and arrive early. You also need to book your tour in Corcovado with anticipation (few weeks before).
Days 1–2: La Fortuna & Arenal Volcano
La Fortuna is the perfect introduction to Costa Rica’s landscapes. Surrounded by lush rainforest and dominated by the Arenal volcano, it offers easy hikes and rich biodiversity.
Highlights
- Arenal Volcano National Park
- Butterfly Conservatory – El Castillo
- Lava trails & rainforest walks
- Wildlife spotting: howler monkeys, capuchins, toucans, capybaras…
- Volcano viewpoints and hot springs nearby
Hotels: Casa Amanecer B&B – peaceful location with mountain views, surrounded by birds and nature, Arenal Tropical Gardens.
Restaurants: Arenal Lodge Hôtel, Arenal ChillOut bar, Fusion Arenal Mirador
Day 3: Tenorio Volcano National Park (Río Celeste)
From La Fortuna, we headed north to Tenorio Volcano National Park, home to the famous Río Celeste. The hike leads through dense jungle and areas of volcanic activity before reaching the river, whose unreal turquoise colour is created by a natural chemical reaction.
Despite being one of the park’s busiest spots, it remains one of the most impressive natural sites in the country. We spent the night in a small local cabin near the park, away from the main village.
Day 4: Rincón de la Vieja National Park
Rincón de la Vieja offers a completely different atmosphere, with drier landscapes and visible volcanic activity along the trails. Short hikes take visitors from tropical forest to arid plains, passing bubbling mud pools and steam vents.
After a long road compared to the short visit we did, we continued towards Monteverde, stopping briefly at a waterfall for a refreshing swim: Llanos del Cortés Waterfall.
Accomodation: Catarata Bijagua Lodge.
Days 5–6-7: Monteverde & the Cloud Forest Area
The Monteverde region is famous for its cloud forests, although conditions can vary depending on the weather. We explored the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve with a guide, and Monteverde Forest Reserve independently (both early in the morning) learning about the ecosystem, forest regeneration and the incredible diversity of plant species. Wildlife sightings included coatis, birds and armadillos.
In addition to nature walks, we visited a small family-run coffee farm to learn about local coffee production, and experienced one of Monteverde’s major attractions: ziplining above the forest canopy, including a very long “Superman-style” line in 100% Aventura.
Accomodations: Cabana Woodpecker (Modern cabins or eco-lodges around Santa Elena) or Cabina Romantica nearby Monteverde parc entrance.
Restaurants: Morpho’s Restaurant, Sabor Tico, Tree House
Days 8–9-10: Manuel Antonio National Park, Dominical & Uvita
Moving to the Pacific coast brought a noticeable change in climate. Manuel Antonio National Park, despite being the most visited in Costa Rica, offers a unique mix of jungle trails and white-sand beaches. Early entry allowed us to explore the park before the crowds, spotting sloths, monkeys, iguanas and toucans along the way.
Dominical & Uvita
Further south, Dominical and Uvita provided a more relaxed coastal atmosphere. In Uvita, Marino Ballena National Park is known for its whale-tail-shaped sandbar and wide beaches, making it a pleasant stop between jungle and ocean.
Acomodation: Rio lindo hotel
Days 11-12-13: Drake Bay, Corcovado & Isla del Caño
Drake Bay
To reach Drake Bay, we travelled by boat from Sierpe, navigating mangrove canals and the Pacific coastline. Drake Bay is a quiet starting point for exploring Corcovado National Park, one of the most biodiverse areas in the World.
Accommodation: Ruizdael on AirBnB, a small family guesthouse directly on the beach.
Corcovado National Park
A guided hike from the Sirena Biological Station offered exceptional wildlife viewing, including tapirs, monkeys, sloths, anteaters and countless bird species.
The experience is a bit demanding but unforgettable.
Isla del Caño
We also took a snorkelling trip to Isla del Caño, a protected marine reserve, where we encountered tropical fish, rays and reef sharks under favourable conditions.
On our way to the carribbean coast, we did a short stop to see the mysterious stone spheres, a UNESCO-listed heritage site: Batambal. Over 300 spheres are scattered across Costa Rica, and their exact origin and purpose remain unknown… We slept between Sierpe and San Jose in Altura House, a small cabin by the mountain nearby the road.
Day 14: San José
The capital is compact and easy to explore in one day, and in my point of view more of a transit stop than a highlight, but useful for learning about Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian history!
Highlights
- Gold Museum
- Jade Museum
- Historic neighbourhoods and markets
Hotel: Santo Tomas and its swimming pool in the city center.
Days 15-16-17: Caribbean Coast – Cahuita, Punta Uva & Puerto Viejo
The Caribbean coast feels very different from the Pacific side, with a strong Afro-Caribbean influence and a relaxed atmosphere. We visited the Sloth sanctuary and next day the Cahuita National Park, walking along coastal trails lined with rainforest and spotting raccoons and monkeys!
Nearby beaches such as Punta Uva and Manzanillo offer calm waters and white sand, while Puerto Viejo is livelier, with cafés, shops and a small night market.
Accommodation: Atlantida Lodge, a nice beachfront lodge
Restaurant: Sobre las Olas by Gondwana, Restaurante y Bar La Peruanita.
Day 18-19-20: Tortuguero National Park
The final stop was Tortuguero, accessible only by boat. A scenic canal transfer through dense jungle led to our lodge, set on stilts in the rainforest. The area is known for its waterways and abundant wildlife, including monkeys, caimans and iguanas.
We stayed at Evergreen Lodge, a peaceful property surrounded by nature, making Tortuguero a perfect and relaxing end to the trip.
Hotels: We stayed at Evergreen Lodge and its stilted cabins in the rainforest, close to canals and wildlife, and Hotel Tortuguero Beachfront, on the ocean side.
Final Thoughts
This 3-week Costa Rica itinerary allows you to:
- Experience volcanoes, jungle, cloud forest and beaches
- See a wide variety of wildlife
- Balance adventure, nature and relaxation
Best of
